Journal box



Sept. 3. 1940. w. BLAcKMoRE JOURNAL BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 2. 1932 nven or '4421 Gttorneg Sept 3, 1940 w. BLAcKMoRE I 2,213,575

JQURNAL Box original Filed July 2. 1932 2 sheets-sheet 2 /.g'g v 12 I o l 14 00 'oo -15 o -o o l o o o o. G o o:

Patented Sept. 3, 1940 `UNITED Y STATES JOURNAL Box William Blackmore, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to National Malleableand Steel Casting Company, Cleveland,l Ohio, a corporation of Original application `uly 2, 1932,

Serial `No. y

620,682. Divided and this lapplication Septem`y ber 9, 1936,`Serial No. 99,942

4 Claims. (Cl. 308-80)- 'This vinvention relates to improvements in journal boxes and has particular referenceto the provision of elective meansv for lubricating the bearing surfaces. Theinventio-n is especially 6 concerned with a construction of the plainbearing type but certain of its'features areapplicable also to roller bearing boxes. This is a division of my pending application Ser. No. 620,682, led July 2, 1932.

It is a primary purpose of the present invention to provide improved means for preventing the escape of lubricant from a journal box equipped with a forced or ood lubrication system, such as shown in the above-mentioned parent case. In said case there is disclosed a'parf ticularly effective arrangement-,by which'a continuous flow of oil is maintained over the bearing surfaces at all speeds of rotation of the journal. Toward this endl there is provided a chain of special construction carried by the journal and adapted to be kept in motion by the rotation of the journal to carry oil from a reservoir at the bottom of the box to distributing means at the top of the journal. A chain having a broad surface adapted to convey large amounts-of oil is provided to supply adequate lubrication over a wide range of speeds. vAri important feature of the improved chain is its construction in such 30 a way that it will not tend to cling to the under side of Ythe journal and will function properly at all times. Moreover, the vimproved lubricating system, as disclosed inthe parent case, involves` aspecial construction of the brass for most 35 electively removing the oil from the chain and distributing it along the journal. While the improved sealing or retaining means of the present vinvention is particularly suited for use in connection with this improved lubrication system, it is also applicable to boxes equipped with other means for providing a suitable flo-w of lubricant over the bearing surfaces.

The trend in modern railroad practice towar higher speeds of operation has not only increased the need for adequate lubrication but this in turn has increased the difficulty of retaining the lubricant within the journal box. According to the presentV invention, this problem is effectively met by providing a special arrangement of surfaces within the box for insuring the return to the reservoir of any oil that attempts to escape at the inner end of the box. For this purpose the wedge is given a special formation at its inner end, adjacent the inner end of the box, r whereby oil thrown from the journal by an obturating ring .will be rapidly returned to th reservoir at the bottom of the box.

Other features and advantages of the inventionwill become. apparent from the detailed description ofan illustrative embodiment of the same, which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, central, vertical section through va box embodying the invention,

applied to the end of an axle.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectionV through the boxA taken along the line 2-2 of FigureV 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectiontaken through a portion of the box along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring now .to the drawings, one embodiment of the invention as applied to a. plain bearing box isllustrated. `Over the end of the journal l there is'applieda box Il which has preferably suchA standardv outside dimensions as to be adapted to t intoy standard framesdesigned for plain bearing boxes. In lieu of forming; the journal box as a separate unit it might-beformed as an integral part' of a standard side 1 frame structure, if desired; Between the underk surface of the top .of the box and the top of the journal lthere is provided a wedge l2 and a brass I3 through which the load of the side frame of the car will be transmitted. to the journal. The un,- der surface of .the brass vwhich bears upon the axle is suitably lined with babbitt, or the, like, as indicated at I4. About Amidwayrbetween the ends of the brass a groove I5k is'providedtrans'-` versely of the same. lI-This,` as .indicated in Figure 1, is primarily out into the babb-itt lining but at points, particularly atthe. sides oi the brass, is also cut into themetal oi' the brass itself. A chain i6 is supported by the journal. in the plane of the groove. l5` and forms a comparatively snug t with the side walls. of the groove at the top of the journal. Just suicient clearance should be provided in the groove to permit free movement of the chain through it. Clearance between the top of the chain and the groove should be great enough to allow for some wearofthe babbitt. The lower yportion of the chain dips into a bath of oil I1 carried in a reservoir at the bottom of the box.

Chainl raises oil from the oil reservoir and delivers it to the bearing surfaces of the journal and brass.

the inner end where a comparatively large opening is required around the journal, there is provided an obturating ring 3| having a sleeve portion pressed over a part of the journal and hav- .50 To prevent the leakage of oil from the box at j ing an outwardly ared portion extending into the box. This ring is rotated with the journal and passes through the space provided between an extension 32 of the brass and an extension 33 of the wedge. The under surface of the wedge extension', as best shown iny Figure 3, is in the form of 'a Gothic arch"34 having a'peak 35. The sides of the arch slope rather abruptly from this peak so that the tendency of the oil to accumulate and remain at the top of the surface 34 is overcome. If the surface 34 were ay portion of a cylinder, instead of being peaked as shown, oil would collect at the top and would drip directly therefrom. Some of this would' fallup'on the outer surface of the ring 3| and would nd its way out along the journal. which is thrown against the-peaked surface during the rotation of the journal willflow quickly to one side or the other down to the lower edge 36. This, furthermore, as indicated in Figure 1, is inclined downwardly and toward the center of the box from an uppericorner 3'l'to a'lower corner 38. Therefore, anyoil thrown against'the surface 34 will vflow freely and quickly down tothe point 38 from which it will drop onto the brassand find its way back to the oil reservoir. The danger of dropping oil from the top of the box or the wedge onto the outer face of the obturating ring will in this way be obviated. A sealing member 39 surrounds the sleeve ofthe obturating ring and ts into a recess in the inner end of the box so as to prevent the access of dust and .also assist in preventing the escape of oil. 'j

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms .of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of suchv terms and expressions, off excluding any equivalentsof the features shownand described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications arepossible'withinthe scope of the invention claimed.,v L Y What I claim isi 1."In aplain bearing journal box'structure a box having an oilreservoir and adapted to receive the end of -a journal, a brass carried bysaid journal, a wedge between`the brass and said box, meansfor distributing lubricant from'said reservoir along. said journal, ashieldcarried by said journal adjacent the inner end of said box, and a ledge whose under surface is formed with a sharp peak formed by downwardly sloping, intersecting faces formed ony said wedge adjacentsaid shield arranged to` return to s'aid reservoir `oil thrown againstsaid surface. 1:1 1

2. In a plain bearing journal box structure, a vbox member havingan oil reservoir and adapted to receive the end of a journal, `a brass carried by said journal, a wedge member between the brass On the 'other h and any oilv and box member, means for distributing lubricant from said reservoir along said journal, and an oil shield carried by said journal in rear of said brass, one of said members having surfaces thereon, in the top portion ofvsaid box memberlocated partly in the plane of rotattion of said oil s 'hield and partly forwardly thereof and extending downwardly adjacent the sides of said box member, portions of said surfaces being flared outwardly in an axial direction and joining other portions of said surfaces adjacent the sides of said box, sloping downwardly and forwardly, said rst named portions of said surfaces being adapted to receive oil thrown by said oil shield and to deliver said oil to said other portions of said surfaces, said other portions of said surfaces being arranged to direct the flow of said oil forwardly in said box member and to deliver it to the bottom of said box member forwardly of the plane of said oil shield.

3. In a plain bearing journal box structure, a box having an oil reservoir and adapted to receive the end of a journal, a wedge member between the brass and box, means for distributing lubri-l cant from said reservoir along said journal, and an oil shield carried by said journal in rear of said brass, said Wedge having surfaces thereon located partly in the plane of-rotation of said oil shield and partly forwardly thereof, and extend-I ing transversely across said box above saidjournal and downwardly adjacent the sides of said box, said surfaces being so constructed and ar-- ranged as to direct the flow of oil thrown against any portion of themA by said oil shield down-. wardly and forwardly of said box and to dis, charge said oil into the bottomof said box forward of the plane of said oil shield.

4. In a plain bearing journal box structure, la box having an oil reservoir and adapted toA receive the end of a journal, a wedge member between the brass and box, means for distributing lubricant from said reservoir along said journal, and an oil shield carried by said journal in rear of said brass, said wedge having surfaces thereon located partly in the plane of rotation of said oil shield and partly forwardly thereof, and Yextending downwardly adjacent the sides of said box, portions of said surfaces being flared outwardly in an axial direction and joining other portionsof said surfaces sloping downwardly and forwardly, said rst named portions of said surfaces Vbeing adapted to receive oil thrown by vsaid oil shieldV and to deliver said oil to said other portions of said surfaces, said other portions of said. surfaces being arranged to direct the ow of said oil.for wardly in said box and to deliver it to the-bottom of said box forwardly of the plane of said oil shield. WILLIAM BLACKMORE. 

